Ode to Polite Drivers

One of the first things you might hear about Atlanta, GA is “That Awful Atlanta Traffic!” as if it is our dominant ambience. Traffic here can be horrible, in the same way that there can be sharks at the beach, or bears in the woods. The two big traffic tangles here are “The Downtown Connector”—where I-75 and i-85 travel the same 7.5 mile stretch through, well, downtown; the other is “Spaghetti Junction”—the Northeast interchange at I-85 and the Atlanta Perimeter—I-285. Tales from those two can poison almost any traffic discussion.

I posit that “Hurry” is the silent source of most traffic tangles. I won’t try to diagnose the ills, nor point to possible solutions. I am as guilty as anyone contributing to talk of traffic troubles. So today I point to polite drivers—people who tend to be overlooked, not appreciated; they do exist.

An example; the entrance to our neighborhood comes off a busy through-street. In heavy traffic times it can be difficult to enter or exit the busy street (Or to make a left turn into our neighborhood). I often see polite drivers who stop in their line of traffic to allow another driver to enter the line of traffic. I also try to do that when possible, myself—it is not always safe to do that. But it is a good practice; often drivers offer such courtesy.

Until Paige’s illness, I taught in the AARP Driver Safety Program. We always discussed “Distracted Drivers;” —cell phones and eating etc., also reacting to other drivers—a real No-No! Pay attention to your own driving, your own attitude, situation-awareness. It goes a long way toward safe driving. More drivers show politeness than are given credit.

In fact Jesus had something to say about this; no, Jesus and his disciples did not drive a Honda (Well, they were usually in one Accord!) He said, do not judge, complain, argue with others. He said the likely problem is, you look for wrong in others while letting the trash in your own eye confuse you (RWV Revised Willis Version). Complaining about others only complicates your own thinking and behavior. Don’t do it! Be nice, Jesus said (also RWV).

To a great extent, most of us learn to find “work-arounds”. When we can, we schedule our trip accordingly. “When someone cuts me off, “a friend said, “or speeds on ahead, I toss a quick “dart-prayer” for that person. I do not know what that driver is dealing with.” Paige, my late wife, applied her own aphorism—“Everyone is dealing with something!”

The Apostle Paul told his friends at Philippi that he had learned the secret of contentment. No matter how people treated him, or what circumstances he may be found in, he said, “I have everything I need.” I have known people like that. It is rare, but possible—-possible for all of us; it depends upon one’s own propensity for finding deep faith. I do not mean that faith is some form of Santa Claus, or a panacea.

Viktor Frankl, a German psychiatrist, discovered this among his fellow prisoners in Nazi Concentration Camps. He found that those who had clung to a deep meaning for life tended to thrive—as contrasted with those with no sense of purpose—even though they were physically better off; who usually died. Hope infused with deep purpose is life-giving!

©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2023